Coach Commens has faith Johnson will pull through in SA

HOCKEYROOS coach Adam Commens has no doubt former Mackay player Kirstin Johnson will be up for the challenge of playing in South Africa next month.

The defender will make her debut in green and gold alongside another former Mackay player, Teneal Attard, in the Investec Challenge in Cape Town.

The sixth-ranked Hockeyroos, whose tour party includes eight representatives from the London Olympics, will tackle world No.1 Holland, England (3rd) and South Africa (11th) in the week-long tournament which starts on February 4.

Victorian Danielle Schubach will also make her debut in the tournament, and Commens said both she and Johnson deserved their opportunity after strong efforts in the Australian Hockey League and the International Super Series Hockey 9's tournament (which the Hockeyroos won).